Healthy and health-happy

Carl George gathers consultants for Healthy Living Day

Start Carl George talking about health and wellness and he will talk rapidly, smiling, barely able to contain himself.

"I'm going to try not to get excited here," said George in a recent interview with The Telegram. He then dove into an explanation of how healthy living has meant happier living - reducing his stress levels and keeping him fit.

Start Carl George talking about health and wellness and he will talk rapidly, smiling, barely able to contain himself.

"I'm going to try not to get excited here," said George in a recent interview with The Telegram. He then dove into an explanation of how healthy living has meant happier living - reducing his stress levels and keeping him fit.

A special education teacher now, George is retiring next year and is already ramping up his second career as a trainer and motivator, working to see others adopt healthier lifestyles.

The second career grew naturally out of a lifelong interest in health and wellness, he said. George is already a CanFitPro (Canadian Fitness Professionals)-certified personal trainer with an active weight-loss program called, simply, Healthy Living. He said he is eager to spend more time working in the field and encouraging others.

George said he focuses on weight management, reduced stress and improved self-esteem rather than what he sees as punishment/reward techniques. He includes consideration of the effects of emotion and stress on an individual as well as nutrition.

"It is a different view. It's very soft, very kind, very nurturing; it's the way to do things. No pressure, no stress and let's stop beating up on ourselves. You're a wonderful person, now let's celebrate that and let's celebrate it by doing some healthy things for themselves," he said.

"When people come to me the first thing they recognize is I'm completely different. You've got to care about the person."

Then he laughed. "I always sound like an infomercial."

"Even when I wasn't doing this for a career, people would always come and ask me questions," George said. He had no problems when they did, thrilled with the results of his own approach and eager to share his relax-and-feel-great mentality.

George's approach, in addressing mental stress and emotion as well as the need for physical activity, is in step with recommendations made by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"If your life is full of stress, it can be difficult to lead a healthy lifestyle," the organization states on its website. "Instead of being physically active to relieve stress, some people respond by overeating, eating unhealthy foods, consuming too much alcohol or smoking - reactions that can increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.

"Responding to stress with anger can also be harmful, since it sets off a series of physiological changes including increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure levels that can increase your chance of having a heart attack. And, people who are prone to anger are also more likely to turn to unhealthy behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and overeating."

So to encourage overall fitness - as well as to promote his business development leading into the next year - George has now pulled together a collection of local consultants on health and wellness in order to hold a "Healthy Living Day."

"It says Carl George's 'Healthy Living Day,' but it's kind of not. It's my way of promoting all these other people," he said. "I really wanted to display the talent we have in St. John's because there's a lot here."

"While it seems like 'My God, that's a lot of things,' it will take you along very nicely, very gently throughout the day," George said.

"I don't think (the public is) aware of the depth of what these people can do. Like, nutrition: OK, just another diet? These people don't deal in diets. They deal in lifestyle changes. So it's not a point of just giving you information, it's a point of giving you a pathway to getting well.

"All of these people coming are people I would go to and they share the same philosophy," he added. "Everyone takes the same philosophy - the whole idea of let's stop dieting, let's stop beating up on ourselves. There's no failure involved, because everything starts with how can I treat myself in the most wonderful way possible?"

The collection of consultants, along with George, will be available throughout the day to speak with participants on an individual basis, he said. The day will also include scheduled presentations and activities.

"It's more of a retreat workshop ... and it's how can we help you? Now, there's a whole lot of information and we know a lot of stuff. And it's very individualized, because everybody has their own concerns," he said.

"There's no quick fix. We don't make any promises. Joe Trainer down the road can train you and get you in great shape in seven weeks, but I'm saying how can I make you adapt to a nice, healthy lifestyle that I feel sincere about and to which you can adapt?" George said.

Carl George's Healthy Living Day will be held Saturday, June 12 at the Masonic Temple at 6 Cathedral St. Anyone interested can call 709-579-3023 for more information. Day-of registration begins at 8 a.m. and the day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration costs $149, including meals and an Acca Kappa Spa kit.

HBG

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